Fringe candidates dominate while frontrunners wait

2014 mayoral candidates

CREDENTIALS: A lifelong politician, Judy has held seats in Winnipeg both federally and provincially and attempted to usurp Mayor Sam Katz in 2010, but was defeated. She ran three unsuccessful provincial NDP campaigns in Ontario before moving to Winnipeg in 1981, eventually winning a provincial seat in 1986 in the St. John’s riding. Judy added the Leis to her name after marrying Ron Leis in the 1970’s and they have two sons.

CAN SHE WIN? As the only potential left-wing candidate, she's the odds-on favourite.

CREDENTIALS: A first-term city councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo, she
has been a vocal and active member of council for the past four years.
She was a strategic business and marketing consultant prior to politics
and has two sons. She sits on multiple municipal boards and was kicked
off EPC after a bout with the mayor over property tax increases.

CREDENTIALS: A privacy lawyer by trade, Bowman has been an active member of the Winnipeg community, serving on the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce board.

CAN HE WIN? If he comes up with some concrete policies other than being pro-selfie, he could conceivably win voters over as the fresh face that's needed to clean up city hall. Consider him the darkest of horses.

CREDENTIALS: runs Superb Entertainment with his partner. The entertainment agency and event production company books exotic
dancers, speakers, ventriloquists and a host of other entertainers for parties and events. The Altona-born candidate grew up on a farm in St. Joseph before moving to Winnipeg in 1982. Fillion is openly gay and has lived with his partner for 30 years.

CREDENTIALS: The Saskatchewan-born Cree-Metis currently works as the program director for Aboriginal Focus Programs at U of M and holds a Ph.D from the University of Laval in the field of aboriginal studies. He has previously served in the military and says he is an avid student of urban issues.

CAN HE WIN? He's the most credible out-of-the-blue candidate so far.

Gord Steeves

CREDENTIALS: A lawyer by trade, Steeves spent 11 years as a city
councillor for St. Vital before giving up his seat in 2011 to
unsuccessfully run provincially for the Tories. He was also president of
the Federation of Canadian Municipalities from 2005-2008 and was a
school board trustee for St. Vital. Born in Winnipeg, his parents were
farmers in Saskatchewan, so he spent most of his childhood between the
two provinces. He is married with three children.

CAN HE WIN? Yes, but likely only if other candidates drop out and
support him as part of an "anyone but Judy" campaign. Otherwise, he's in
a tough spot.

Topics

The race for mayor is officially on, but so far the frontrunners were quiet as the fringe candidates descended on city hall.

The first and only candidate to register on Thursday: controversial blogger Gordon Warren.

Last year, he came under fire from Jewish groups after distributing "$h*tler's List," decrying many prominent — mostly Jewish — Winnipeggers as being corrupt.

"I am the candidate for people who are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore," Warren said. "I'm running to clean up city hall."

Former city councillor Gord Steeves is the only frontrunner who has made his intentions clear, announcing his stab at Mayor Sam Katz's chair last October.

He will formally register on Friday.

May 1 marked the day candidates could legally begin spending money on their campaigns and register for the Oct. 22 election.

Funeral director and would-be mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis attempted to silence naysayers by releasing his criminal record, which revealed an assault charge from 26 years ago and as well as a contempt of court charge.

The record also revealed he wasn't a resident of Winnipeg. The fringe candidate actually lives on the fringes of the city, in St. Andrews.

"I'm entitled to not live in the city. My papers that I've given in today clearly say if I own a property in Winnipeg and (am) a resident of Manitoba, you are eligible to run for mayor," he said.

The issue kept him from registering, as the city clerk required more information to prove his residency, but he said he hopes to get it all sorted out by Friday.

As for other fringe candidates, political party jokesters the Rhino Party have announced their candidates, including Jimmy Mac, a former co-host of Winnipeg's Breakfast TV, whose platform calls for on a giant fan pointed at Florida to warm the city. CJOB traffic reporter Brian Barkley wants to fill potholes with rubber cement.

Meanwhile, the potential frontrunners were slow out of the gates.

Royce Koop, a political science professor at the University of Manitoba, said some potential candidates are stalling because they don't intend to run — most notably Coun. Paula Havixbeck and Coun. Scott Fielding, who have expressed interest with no commitment.

"The benefit of holding back — I don't think Havixbeck or Fielding are going to run, to be honest — is you get all this free media service, it is usually complimentary," he said.

Katz has publicly declared he won't reveal his intentions until June, which Koop said is understandable given he's the current mayor.

"One of the problems, especially for incumbents like Katz, he would want to avoid the perception of looking like he was running for mayor too early, he would not want people to think he was giving up being the mayor or governing to start campaigning," he said.

Meanwhile, the candidates who are very likely to run, such as former NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, are at a disadvantage the longer they wait, he said.

"The danger for some of these people, is that people who would naturally be Steeves' competition are kind of getting pushed aside; he is gathering momentum," he said.

Mayor race begins

Fringe candidates dominate while frontrunners wait

The race for mayor is officially on, but so far all is quiet at city hall.

The list of potential candidates remain in the shadows, with no major declarations anticipated for Thursday.

May 1 marks the day candidates can legally begin spending money on their campaign and can register for the 0ct. 22 election at the city clerk’s office.

Funeral director Michael Vogiatzakis, who had announced his intentions earlier this year, will hold his official launch Thursday afternoon. He plans to silence critics of his past variances with Manitoba Public Insurance by unveiling his criminal record.

Former city councillor Gord Steeves is the only frontrunner who has made his intentions clear, announcing his stab at Mayor Sam Katz’ chair last October.

Otherwise, the rest of the potential frontrunners are slow out of the gates.